DPMM FC's players have reacted positively to the appointment of Steve Kean as the team's new coach.

The former manager of England's Blackburn Rovers FC will be leading the Sultanate's only professional club this season following the departure of Croatian Vjeran Simunic last November.

"I believe that Kean will be able to bring the team back on its feet this year and challenge for the title in the Singapore League (S-League)," captain Rosmin Hj Mohd Kamis said in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday.

"He used to coach in the English Premier League, which is one of the best football leagues in the world, and it is an honour for us to be able to train under him," he added.

DPMM FC had a poor campaign last year, managing an eighth-place finish and a heart-breaking 4-0 loss to Balestier Khalsa FC in the S-League Cup final.

"We had a bad season last year," said midfielder Mohd Hendra Azam Mohd Idris yesterday.

"I can't wait for the season to start. I am looking forward to working with Kean. He likes to play one-two pass football and it will be very interesting. I hope that he can lead us to win the league this year."

Striker Shahrazen Said was equally excited. He believes that Kean is the perfect man to lead the club this season.

"He is a very good coach... The way he talks to the players and explains things on the training ground is just excellent," said Shahrazen.

"Coach Steve (Kean) philosophy of football is quite different from Simunic.

"He (Kean) likes the players to run around with the ball and make one-two passes, while Simunic was more to running without the ball and looking for empty spaces."

"I have a very positive impression about him and I hope that we will be able to adapt quickly to his style of play."

Meanwhile, other new imports to the club are defender Boric Raspudic from Bosnia and midfielders Roberto Alviz from Croatia and Joe Gamble from Ireland.

The only import player retained in the squad is Brazilian Rodrigo Tosi.

Other foreign players said to be linked with DPMM FC include former Borussia Dortmund forward Euzebiusz Smolarek and ex-Sampdoria striker Ikechukwu Kalu.

Former Arsenal and Everton striker Francis Jeffers was also previously mentioned, but DPMM FC had made it clear that no deal has been made between the club and the player's representative.

Another possibility is former Sunderland striker Roy O' Donovan who is currently in the country.

"He (O'Donovan) just arrived today (yesterday) and I am looking forward to see him in training soon," Shahrazen said.

The club are also looking forward to start their pre-season training. Their first stop is the Saksee Phuket Cup tournament in Thailand later this month.

According to DPMM FC's official website, the club have been invited to participate in the tournament on January 25-27.

The club are also reported to have been slated to host Malaysian FA Cup Champions Kelantan FA on January 31 at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.